Wichita eagle., 1887-04-26

An AbIeresIIng Problem Discussed by q
French Naturalist-Not a New Idea.
Some Very Interesting Cause.-The Next
Question.
Can monkeys be domesticated and made as
useful to man as the horse, the OK and he ass
are useful. but in q different wayl Such is
the interesting problem discussed in book
just issued here by NJ Victor Meunier, who
has made udy of these curious specimens
OF the amir kingdom.
And tt 4.oblem. according to the author,
wiu IN tine receive a successful solution.
Mankind viii in the future draw from tho
ranks of the Simian tribes servants skillful
enough to perform tasks now only discharged
by rcaSoning-I had almost said reasonable
-beings-tasl,s that require only strength of
muscle, skill of hand and ordinary intelli-
gence.
But N. Meunier draws very distinct line
bt:Ween the higher and lower orders Of the
monkey race. Among the latter he places the
Barbary ape, the pouched, the stIiated and
other varieties; among the former the Chin
panzee, the gorilla, the orang- outang and the
''gibbon," 'or long armed species, And it is
only from among the last named that the ser
wants of the future viii be recruited.
NOT a BAD IDEA
Nor is the idea Of Simian domesIics new
one. Button, il the last century, staked his
great reputation as naturalist on the follow
ing statement:
Il have seen O. chimpanzes that always
walked on two legs, even when carrying
heavy burdens. 4 word or sign was suffi-
Gent TO make him obey, and his temper was
equable and gentle l have seen him offer his
hand TO lead out those who had been calling
on his master and walk with them like com
panion. | have seen him take his seat at
table, unfold his napkin, wipe bis lips, use
spoon and fork, pour out glass of wine and
pledge a health when invited | have seen
him take cup and saucer, place it on the
table, pour out tea, put sugar in it, let it get
cool before drinking, and all without other
instigation than the signs or words of his
master.
HE never injured any one, but always ap-
preached you carefully and as if wishing to
be petted. He was prodigiously fond Of can
dies, everybody fed him with them, and as he
had cough and his lungs were affected, it is
supposed that the indulgence of this appetite
shortened his life. He only lived one summer
in Paris and died the following winter in
London"
Another learned savant, Camille Flam-
marion, points out that all the chimpanZees
that have been brought TO Europe have been
similarly docile One that had been brought
to the geological garden in Antwerp was
taken into the family of the superintendent.
He showed affection for his masters children
shared their games, went with them into the
garden, picked cherries for them, dragged
them about in a little carriage and even some
times dlned with them, when he would empty
glass of champagne TO the health of the COM
pany.
TRAINED FEMALE MONKEY.
A female monkey, described by Capt.
Grandperret, had been trained while on a
voyage 10 America to heat the oven, and per-
formed her duties to the satisfaction of all |
concerned. She was careful not to let the |
burning Goals tumble out on the deck and |
was evidently pleased when the proper degree |
of heat was obtained She would then go |
and inform the baker. But this was not her |
only specially, or, to speak more correctly, |
she had no speciality. She could turn her |
hand e. 10 all and any of the ordinary en-
Payments of the sailor, such as weighing ell
Choir, taking in sal and making everything
taut, and not only this, but what she did was
SO wen done that the Jack Tars came TO re
gard her as quite one OF themselves.
At Loa1go a chimpanzee was trained to go
for wafer 10 the river and wood to the forest,
sweep The room, make the beds. turn the spit,
etc. Having fallen sick bleeding set him on
his feet again. Nor did he forget what |
cured him, for being again attacked a year |
afterwards, and seeing the doctor come into |
the room, he held out his arm that the process !
might be repeated.
An explorer, Il Poussielque, travelling in
Geronimo by Gen. Llorente, The latter |
several times referred to his servant Antonio, |
and striking 4 bell Antonio appeared. He |
was a monkey about four feet in height, |
dressed in white trousers and a red vest and |
wearing a cap. At a signal from his master |
be stuck napkin under his arm and laid the |
table And" adds II Poussielque, The |
waited on Us, doing everything himself, more
rapidly than four negro servants would |
have done it" Antonio was u years old, |
having been born in the Gaboon and brought |
TO Florida by the negro who had educated |
him
The question then recurs, can the monkey |
be domesticated and made suhServient TO
man, as the dog, the horse, the OK has been
made subservie lent. The dog has been trained |
to hunt and be a faithful guardian of mans |
interests; the OK has been taught to drag |
heavy loads, but the intelligence of the ape |
far surpasSes any of the 50 called domestic |
animals, in that he alone has a hand and can
become q worinan-Paris Cor. New York |
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